Sibalom Antique

Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Sangguniang Bayan passed an Ordinance declaring the Century Old Talisay in front of the Romn Catholic Church a Heritage Tree and a Monument of History of the Municipality of Sibalom. This Ordinance sponsored by Hon. Santiago Javier Lotilla IV, is another landmark ingenuity on the part of the Sangguniang Bayan and the Municipal Government under Hon. Mayor Joel Occeña and Hon. Vice Mayor Felipe Lacsama. This Talisay tree has withstood the test of time and could age even more than 200 years old. Some elder people of Sibalom recounted that their grandfathers told them that this Talisay tree is already maturely grown in their grandfather's childhood. It is easily the oldest tree in the poblacion today. This Talisay tree symbolizes Sibalom's evolution from a simple pueblo during the Spanish era into a bustling urban municipality today. This Talisay Tree had singularly claimed the fame and honor of being a witness to the saga and journey of the Municipality of Sibalom to the milestone events that took place in the town plaza, standing firm in her resolved to survive, weather the storm and catastrophe, both natural and human, economic and even socio-political. This Ordinance is an unprecedented move to emphasize the Sibalomnons way of thanking God and nature for having gifted the town with such a Tree that represents the very life and story by which Sibalomnons will live and die for. Thank you Mayor Joel Occeña, Vice Mayor Felipe Lacsama, SB Santiago Lotilla IV and all Sangguniang Bayan Members!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Yesterday, September 16, the PSCA opened up its Intramurals with a parade around Sibalom poblacion. The intrams will be participated by all their college units and laboratory high school. Culural contests will also be held.

PSCA is a fast growing school with a reported increase in student population for this semester of more than 1,500 students. With its quality education and very low tuition fees (around P6,000.00 per semester including miscellaneous fees), PSCA is indeed a school that serves the education needs of the Antoqueños including nearby towns of other provinces.

Yesterday, September 16, a public hearing was conducted to determine the public sentiments/opinions on the proposed site of the proposed new Municipal Hall. The proposed site is in the plaza fronting the new Caltex station.

Opinions and ideas were exchanged. Pros and cons were heard. Two primary choices cropped up;

1. They agree with ther proposed site in the plaza fronting the new Caltex station.

2. They prefer the site where the present Municipal Hall is located.

A voting was held through a piece of paper and to be opened by the SB members when they meet the next day for their regular session.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Yesterday, the Protected Area Management Board(PAMB) of Sibalom Natural Park met at the Sibalom Water District office. The meeting was presided by the boyish DENR PENRO Vicente Sardina.

Among the agenda taken were the SB Resolution authorizing the Municipal Mayor to negotiate in behalf of the Municipality for the Loan-Grant offered by the German Bank KFW for Sibalom Natural Park. Also in the agenda are the study proposals of the Egaña National School on the Rafflesia and the Leyte State University students.

Aside from the students from the respective schools, the guests included representatives from the PROCESS Foundation ( a local NGO), Hon. Tobias Javier (Provincial Board Member), and Hons. Lorryvice Magdaug and Edgar Denosta (SB Members).

Hon. Denosta informed the PAMB body that the SB Members have already passed a Resolution to Authorize the Municipal Mayor to negotiate with the Landbank and KFW regarding the proposed P20-35 million loan-grant offered by KFW. The next step will be the Letter of Intent of the Municipal Mayor.

The proposed projects would directly benefit the 16 barangays involved in the protection of Sibalom Natural Park. The Sibalom Natural Park, as remembered, is one of the major accomplishment of then Mayor Erick Javier Lotilla, when he was very instrumental in the proclamation of the park as the first Natural Park in Panay under the NIPAS Act.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Polytechnic State College of Antique will be holding their intramurals starting Monday, August 15, to Friday, August 19. A parade will be held on Monday participated by their campuses in Hamtic, Tibiao, and Libertad.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The Sibalom Water District has just purchased a brand new 75 kva Generator Set for its pumping operations. This Generator set is a necessity since the province of Antique is experiencing brownouts every once in a while. When there is a brownout, there is practically no water in the pipeline served by the water district. Potable water is a very important part of our daily life and that the continuous flow of it to our households must be a priority.

Along with the arrival of the Genset are PVC Pipes to be used for expansion going to Brgy. Cubay Napultan and Alangan. This pipelines will hasten the development of the said area as potable water is an important factor to progress.

Are you in favor of a foreign company desilts our rivers for free, buys the sand at local price, and bring it outside of the Philippines?

Municipal Flower of Sibalom

Municipal Fossil of Sibalom

Blog Archive

A Short Story

This story is purely fiction. Any similarity in names and events is purely incidental.THE MOST VALUABLE GIFT(The Story of Prince John and Princess Diane)

Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom called Imparayan, a beautiful princess was born to the Royal Family. Being the only child of the King and Queen, she was given the most attention and was cared for like no other child in the Kingdom of Imparayan. The King and Queen named her Diane, after her far distant relative Princess Diana of England. She grew up to be the most beautiful lady in all the land.

On her sixteenth birthday, the King, decided to give her most loved daughter a Royal Ball. The King invited all the Royal Princes of all the kingdoms to attend. Lavish preparations were made to ensure a successful celebration. Princess Diane was adorned with diamonds, gold and silver. Everyone who sees her couldn’t help to admire the radiance and beauty of Princess Diane.

On the day of the Princess’ birthday, the distinguished guests arrived. Kings, Sultans, Rajahs, Sheikhs, Princes, and Royal Family members came with precious gifts and presents. The visitors were awed by the lavish preparations and all could not help but be entranced by the beauty and radiance of Princess Diane. Never in their life have they seen such lavish preparations and never have they seen such beauty in the person of Princess Diane. The King and Queen of the Kingdom of Imparayan welcomed them all.

The time for the Royal dance was to begin. All the princes lined up to take the chance of holding the hand of Princess Diane for a much coveted dance. The Princess would dance with each one of them for only a minute since there were so many of them who lined up to take their turn. The party lasted throughout the night.

At around 3 o’clock in the morning, when everyone seems to be tired of dancing, the King of the Kingdom of Imparayan announced to the crowd that he would give his daughter for marriage to the Prince who can offer the Princess the most valuable gift. His Highness wanted to test who is best fit to marry the lovely Princess Diane.

The first to come forward was Prince Peter of the Kingdom of Bontol. “My Royal Highness”, he said, “ I am giving the Princess 20 sacks of peanuts from the farms of the Kingdom of Bontol”. The King nodded and said, “good”.

Then next came forward Prince Henry of the Kingdom of Igpanolong. “My Royal King”, he said, “I offer the Princess a sack of precious Gemstones taken from the rivers of Igpanolong”. The King nodded and said, “good”.

Prince George of the Kingdom of Cabladan followed, “My Royal Highness, Dear Princess, I offer you the rare flower Rafflesia. This symbolizes the rareness of your beauty and that I searched for this up to the ends of the world to bring this to you.” The King again nodded and said, “good”.

Prince Igor of the Kingdom of Apong followed and said, “ I bring to you Royal Highness, 10 sacks of carrots taken from the hills of the Kingdom of Apong”. The King nodded and said, “good”.

Other Princes followed. Prince Leo of the Kingdom of Luna offered 10 baskets of fishes taken from the rivers of the Kingdom of Luna. Prince Timothy of the Kingdom of Bululacao gave 25 sacks of coffee beans taken from the mountains of Bululacao. Prince Asher of the Kingdom of Tulatula gave 12 sacks of corn from the farm of Tulatula. The Prince of Villafont, Prince Albert, gave 5 sacks of native baskets and wallets. More Princes came forward to offer their gifts and all the time the King would just nod his head and say, “good”.

The time came for Prince John to come forward. He was the most handsome among the Princes and Princess Diane was also falling in love with him. Prince John is the only son of the Clergy King and Queen of the French Kingdom of Daestryfor (pronounced as District 4). His father, who is also called Father King, owned the biggest Church in the world located at the center of the Kingdom of Daestryfor. The family of Prince John owned all the churches in the Kingdoms all over the world including the Church in the Kingdom of Imparayan. Prince John grew in the strict discipline of Christian living which makes him very ideal for any woman to marry. A lot of young ladies who knew him have always dreamed of having him as their suitor.

Prince John came forward and said, “My Royal Highness the King, Princess Diane, I would have given you the stars if I can. Even my life I would gladly give to please you. But I believe that the best and most valuable gift that I can give you is our Church.” The crowd stood silent for a while. For a few seconds, everyone stood still and silent. Then a soft giggle was heard. Then laughter followed. The King’s face was red with anger. How dare this Prince insults Princess Diane by offering her with just a Church! The Church cannot be eaten! Or worn!

Then the King shouted at the top of his voice. “Out! How dare you insult my daughter! Get out of my sight at once or I will have you beheaded right away! You do not deserve to marry my daughter!”. Every one shuddered with fear as the King trembled his voice with anger! Everyone kept silent. Prince John bowed his head and timidly walked out of the Palace Hall feeling ashamed of what happened. Princess Diane wanted to follow him but held back in fear of offending her Father, the King of Imparayan. Prince John was banished from the Kingdom of Imparayan and was forbidden to come near Princess Diane.

A few months have passed and one of the King’s cousins died. He was given a funeral but when they went to the Church for a burial mass, the Church was not there nor was the Priest and so they buried the dead without the blessing of the Priest. Several days later, two people would want to marry but there was no Church and no Priest so they were just married by the King. Again days later, a baby was born and would be Christened but there was no Church and no Priest so that was a problem. A family has just built a house and would want to have it blessed but there was no Priest so they called a quack doctor instead.

A year past and the people of the Kingdom of Imparayan were restless and disorderly. People began clamoring against the King and expressed their dissatisfaction, blaming the King for not having a Church in the Kingdom. Problems have been piling up in the Kingdom of Imparayan. Because the dead were not given burial mass, their ghosts would come back and trouble their living relatives. Because people were not married in the Church, couples would easily break up and divorce. The longest they can stay together was one week. Even newly born babies could not be given Christian names because they were not baptized. They were given names like lomboy, langka, ipil, baho-baho, tangkong, and children from other kingdoms would laugh at them at school. Because the new house was not blessed by the Priest, after a week a tornado carried the whole house away. People in the Kingdom can steal, rob, and do other crimes because there was no moral standard because there was no Church.

The King of Imparayan also began to fear the situation. He sensed that the people are in the break of revolting. Speeches against the King in the public plaza were frequent and the guards could no longer control them and they also were disappointed with the King. The King feared he would be ousted. What would he do if such a possibility happened? Kinging is the only job he has ever done! At last the King, in desperation, called up his ministers. He asks them where to find Prince John. He wanted to apologize to the Prince for belittling his gift to the Princess. One Minister informed the King that Prince John can be found during Tuesdays in the Kingdom of Sibalom. Immediately the King personally went to the Kingdom of Sibalom to look for the said Prince.

During Tuesdays, the Kingdom of Sibalom is very busy. People of other nearby kingdoms would come to the Kingdom of Sibalom to trade. People would come to the market to sell or buy goods. The King of the Kingdom of Imparayan mingled with the crowd and looked here and there. The King then saw Prince John. Prince John was selling corn, peanuts, rice, fishes and vegetables in the market of the Kingdom of Sibalom. The Prince, being shamed during the celebration at the Kingdom of Imparayan about a year ago decided to stop being Prince and decided to be a merchant instead.

When the King saw him, the King bowed down before the Prince and begged him to come back to the Kingdom of Imparayan and offer a new church. The King offered the Princess for marriage to the Prince in return. Prince John was hesitant at first. He wanted to say no to the King of Imparayan because of the insult he had experienced during the Royal Ball. But because of the great love of Prince John for the Princess Diane, the Prince returned to the Kingdom of Imparayan and started a new Church. Life in the Kingdom of Imparayan eventually returned to normal and even became more prosperous than before. The people of Imparayan loved Prince John so much. Prince John and Princess Diane married and they lived happily ever after.